Port Operations
Balaena Falmouth operates the statutory harbour authority responsible for the area of water immediately surrounding Falmouth Docks.
Balaena Falmouth offers a broad scope of facilities and equipment, including Falmouth International Cruise Terminal, an extensive cargo handling facility, an enterprise zone and dock estate. As Cornwall’s only deep-water port with alongside facilities, Balaena Falmouth is an important gateway to the South West of England and the Atlantic.
Falmouth Docks
Cruise Ship Facilities
Balaena Falmouth is home to Falmouth International Cruise Terminal – the gateway to the Duchy of Cornwall.
Falmouth is strategically placed for a wide variety of cruises, including Round Britain, Trans-Atlantic and European positioning, as well as 3/4 day cruises from Southampton or Dover.
The port can accommodate ships alongside, or they can anchor in the sheltered waters of the bay. A dedicated passenger landing facility is available.
Ships berth only a 10-minute walk away from the town or passengers can opt to take a complimentary transfer coach.
Towage Services
Balaena provides a 24-hour towage service at Falmouth for all moves around the dock, the harbour, river or wider bay area.
Currently the fleet consists of two matched twin Voith tractor tugs, each with a bollard pull of 20 tonnes, and one Voith tractor tug with a bollard pull of 43 tonnes. A fourth Voith tractor tug with a bollard pull of 23 tonnes is available on request.
In addition, there are two workboats, one of which can operate throughout the estuary ferrying personnel to work afloat or taking stores and equipment to ships in the river or bay.
Cargo Handling
Balaena’s cargo handling facility is capable of handling all types of general cargo – from glass, stone to animal feed. The port’s strategic role in receiving casualties means that restowing and recovery of damaged cargo is also carried out by Balaena on a regular basis.
The cargo business has bulk cargo bays which are serviced by a LHM150 mobile F harbour crane and offers 4,500 m² of undercover storage.
Enterprise Zone
Set up in 2018 as a commitment to the local economy, Falmouth Docks and Enterprise Zone is intended to help bring greater opportunity, growth and development to the region, with particular focus on how the port’s facilities and infrastructure can be developed for strategic and economic advantage.
Since the Zone was set up, FDEC has undertaken a complex feasibility study to look at the port’s potential and how it could be improved, particularly in relation to serving the offshore renewables market and regional connectivity.
Dock Estate
The Dock estate extends over 30 hectares with major operations of ship repair and port services, plus a full range of marine services from over 17 tenants. These include;
+ Falmouth Oil Services: providing bunkering and inland distribution services.
+ Pendennis Shipyard: prestigious yacht building and restoration projects with a global reputation.
+ Various smaller companies providing ship repair services and supporting local marine business activities.
Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF)
Falmouth Docks secured an award of £973,292 from the Shared Prosperity Fund to undertake an environmental impact assessment (EIA) to inform potential redevelopment to support the production of cleaner, affordable and secure energy from floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea. The EIA will inform how potential modernisation of the dock infrastructure at the historic Cornish port could enable Cornwall to be at the forefront of the growth of this emerging high value, clean growth sector. It will also explore options for the managed expansion of Cornwall's year-round cruise tourism offer.
Floating Offshore Wind (FLOW)
Balaena’s vision is simple – to help make Falmouth a prime hub for the floating offshore wind sector – offering fabrication, construction, maintenance, port and marine services to developers and service companies.
Port Marine Safety Information
Falmouth Tug Specification
